The Valiants return to Vale Park on Saturday to take on Doncaster Rovers in Sky Bet League Two action.
Vale will be looking to bounce back after suffering our first league defeat of the season on Saturday against Barrow AFC.
Gaffer's Thoughts
Darren Moore talks about bouncing back from Saturday’s defeat:
“From last week all you want to do is get back on the training ground and just start training and get your body into motion and your mind to try and irradicate that second half performance. It’s probably justified in the goals we conceded, and the manor just wasn’t us from how we’ve been going about our business, but that’s football, that can happen, it has happened and I’m sure we’re not the first team or won’t be the last team to suffer a game of that manor. We have to learn from it, take it on board. It’s come very, very early in the season”
The gaffer also looks ahead to Saturday’s fixture that is live on Sky Sports+:
“Whenever the cameras are on us it’s time to perform. This season’s different as cameras are at every game so even though visually you get the pre-match build up, now the way footballs changed the cameras are at every game. I suppose for Saturday, it’s the first game at home that we’re on the cameras for and we’re really looking forward to it.
"The icing on the cake is that it’s against one of my previous clubs that I’ve managed and played for. We’re looking forward to the game, they are a good team but the league is full of good teams and I’ve got a lot of respect for the league in terms of the football and the calibre of players who are at this level and we’ve got them coming up Saturday and it bodes well for a very, very good game.”
The Opposition
Doncaster Rovers currently sit in 6th position in the league after picking up six points in their first three games. Their two league wins have come against Accrington Stanley who they beat 4-1 on the opening day, and Morecambe where they won 1-0 last weekend. Rovers also took on Premier League opposition in midweek after facing Everton in the Carabao Cup Second Round. Doncaster put up a spirited performance but were eventually beaten 3-0 at Goodison Park.
Last season, Doncaster finished inside the play-offs but lost to Crewe Alexandra in the Semi-finals. Rovers were 2-0 up after the first leg but conceded twice in the first half of the second leg to take the tie to penalties where they were beaten.
Who’s in Charge? - Grant McCann
Grant McCann is in his second spell in charge of Doncaster Rovers. He first took charge of the club in 2018 where he led his side to a spot in the League Two Play Offs.
However, his side lost out in the semi-final to Charlton Athletic where they drew 4-4 over the two legs but lost on penalties. This would be the first of two occasions that his Doncaster side lost on penalties in the Play Off Semi-Finals.
After spells and Hull City and Peterborough United, McCann returned to the Keepmoat Stadium in February 2023 with his side sat in 22nd place. He guided Rovers to a club-record equalling ten wins a row to earn them a play-off spot where they were beaten by Crewe Alexandra in the semi-finals.
Player to watch – Luke Molyneux
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder played a vital role in Doncaster’s successful 2023/24 season. He pitched in with ten goals and eight assists over the 47 games he played in last season. Molyneux has already started this season in good form with two goals and one assist. Two of these goals came in his side's opening-day victory over Accrington Stanley.
Another player to keep an eye out for is EFL veteran Billy Sharp. The 38-year-old has re-joined Doncaster where he spent three years between 2009-2012. Since his last spell at the club, he has enjoyed a prolific career scoring over 250 goals in just over 650 games. Sharp has already found the net twice this season and will be an asset to Doncaster both on and off the pitch.
Fixture Throwback
Port Vale 3-0 Doncaster Rovers, Saturday 22nd August 2015
The Valiants haven’t lost in the last five meetings with Doncaster Rovers. The fixture in August 2015 was the standout of these games.
The Valiants had a chance to take the lead early in the first half when Enoch Andoh was fouled in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Sam Foley stepped up but saw his spot kick saved by Thorsten Stuckman in the Rovers goal. Foley soon made up for this miss when he opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Carl Dickinson’s cross from the left was perfect for Foley who glanced a header into the far corner from six yards out.
Vale’s lead was doubled just after half time when Uche Ikpeazu broke free before cutting inside from the right and finishing well with his left foot.
The points were wrapped up with two minutes to go when Byron Moore nonchalantly flicked Ben Purkiss’ low cross into the bottom corner from close range.
